Need to replace a valve. Borrowed a compressor from Advance Auto but it was too flimsy and I couldn't budge the spring. Any recommendations for one I could buy? Summit has several that look beefier than the one I tried.
The one I have works great. It slides onto the stud and locked down with the nut. If you cant get valveto budge, I use a socket that fits on top of retainer and smack it a few times to get the locks to free up.
When I worked in a machine shop rebuilding heads, thats how we stripped stubborn heads.
If you want to borrow it, send me an address.
Si Vis Pacem Parabellum
1967 Starlight black PMD Engineering 400 Auto 1968 Alpine Blue 400 4 speed 1968 Verdoro Green 400 HO 4 speed 2013 1LE 2SS/RS Inferno Orange Camaro.
The one I have is one of the best tools I own. Very few tools live up to expectation but this is one of the better ones. It threads onto the rocker stud and then it cams over and locks down on the compressed valve spring. It's not just one of those pry bar looking ones, those and the big C-clamps are useless. Nothing flimsy about this one, easy to operate and fast. You have to be able to keep the valve up though by air pressure in the cylinder or have the head off. I can post a pic later if you need it.
Yes they work best on a bench. I've never had any luck with the big C clamp type. I've tried several different ones. They always, and I mean always, twist when you try to clamp them. Some are not even the right size for pontiac and you have to use big sockets as spacers. Generally they suck bad. I used mine yesterday and was amazed again at how well it works.
The only thing to watch for is that you don't clamp it down so far as to force the spring retainer into the valve seal. Set the tool so that it compresses the spring just enough to remove the keepers and you will be fine. A magnet works good for removing them.
